A Dance and a Confession
Even if my attack speed was faster than most mages and my dynamic vision was decent, it was nothing compared to swordsmen who trained specifically around those strengths.
Rai had incredible defensive power, but there were moments when he was separated from me, and times when I couldn't use him openly, so I needed to prepare countermeasures in advance.
Defeat Robenin!
Swordsmanship was cool and all, but I wished Robenin were dead!
“……You mean a swordsman’s weakness.”
“Yeah.”
A swordsman might not like being asked something like this. If someone asked me how to defeat a Spirit Master, I might punch them right in the solar plexus. With all my strength, too.
“Gladly.”
“Huh? You’ll tell me?”
“Yes. If it helps, I’d be happy to.”
“As expected of our Ash.”
I rewarded his willing answer with a bright smile. Every time I grinned and spoke, Ash grew visibly more flustered.
I turned forward again and skipped along, stepping only on the white stones. Somehow it felt like dancing, and my steps grew lighter. When I caught my wind-tousled hair and glanced back, Ash was watching me, so I flashed him a playful grin.
Walking backward, I nearly tripped over a stone, but it wasn’t a big deal.
“Jeanie.”
As expected, Ash caught me effortlessly.
He looked more startled than I did. There was no point denying it now—I was hopelessly clumsy. Despite that, I often handled my body carelessly and ended up with bruises here and there.
Even now, my body was half-tilted backward, but I felt perfectly at ease.
“Thanks.”
“I had a feeling this would happen……”
With a small sigh, Ash closed his wide eyes and helped me up.
When his strength lifted me by the waist, a strange sense of déjà vu washed over me. This situation felt familiar.
Once I stood upright and we were finally close, Ash seemed to realize what was happening.
He still held my waist, and I had both hands on his shoulders from the momentum of nearly falling.
We were too close again.
“I know this pose.”
A chuckle escaped me. It was probably more familiar to him than to me.
We looked like a couple dancing at a party. There weren’t many other reasons to stand this close.
I thought he’d let go right away, but Ash didn’t. He glanced toward a distant farmhouse, then nervously lifted my fingertips and brushed his lips lightly against the back of my hand.
Everything about it was so careful that refusing felt almost cruel. I felt like I had to accept it.
A kiss on the hand could mean many things, but it usually signaled a request to dance. The most intimate part was being able to meet the other person’s eyes while doing it.
“I thought you were dense.”
“This is simply a matter of manners, my lady.”
“Is that so?”
Failing to request a dance at the proper moment was indeed a clear discourtesy to a lady.
But this wasn’t a ballroom, and I wasn’t a lady.
Well, technically I was, but I wasn’t used to being treated this way.
“Well, fine. It feels nice, so whatever.”
What we were doing today felt more like playful mischief born from good moods. Wearing flower crowns against the field backdrop, I let Ash guide me in a light spin.
After a few steps, I leaned in close—close enough that no one else could hear—and whispered in his ear.
My lips brushed his cheek.
“As expected of Your Highness, your dancing is no ordinary skill.”
How many times had he danced to be this good?
It was impressive. I hadn’t stepped on his feet once while dancing! Of course, Ash was far too quick for that.
With him, I could probably dance with my eyes closed and still avoid it.
“You flatter me.”
“It’s true. I’ve been called tone-deaf and clumsy. I never liked dancing much……but with you, it feels this wonderful?”
Compliments for Ash didn’t feel wasteful at all.
Spin. I rotated slowly once more, crossed my feet, then leaned my back lightly against his chest, moving as my body vaguely remembered.
I seemed more excited than Ash, who had asked for the dance. A ridiculous thought crossed my mind.
“Hehe, I’m finally using the special training I did for the founding anniversary party.”
“You received special training?”
“For three whole days! The headmaster kept nagging that I shouldn’t embarrass Your Highness and that I needed the basics at least.”
“I see.”
“But I only got scolded the whole time.”
Holding his steady hand, I let the soft breeze carry me away before being pulled back into his arms.
“It didn’t feel this good back then.”
Really.
When I added that, Ash grew flustered all over again. Of course he was better than the dance instructor who had only scolded me.
“I was told outright that I had no talent for this.”
Wasn’t that too harsh?
When I asked with my eyes, Ash simply smiled kindly in response. He wasn’t the type to badmouth someone or easily agree with criticism.
“Right! This might be my debutante ball.”
“……Pardon?”
Ash’s usually perfect steps faltered for the first time. He recovered quickly.
“I was always stuck in the training hall, so I never had a chance to debut. I got a few invitations, but they were a hassle. That’s why I got the special training. I’ve never actually attended a party.”
He didn’t need to look that shocked.
Watching Ash’s eyes widen to their limit, I twitched the corner of my mouth. I wasn’t sure what was so amusing.
“If I hadn’t been kidnapped by a dragon, the founding anniversary party would’ve been my official debut.”
“I……had no idea.”
“I wasn’t at the center of rumors like you, so how would you know? Ah, it’s a little sad having to use past tense now. Anyway, thinking about it now, it’s a waste. If the party had gone smoothly, Dikel III might’ve been my debut partner……That would’ve been pretty impressive, right?”
If your first dance partner was the king of your own country, there couldn’t be a more splendid debut.
It was a shame, but I’d long since deviated from the ideal lady’s path, so I didn’t feel much regret. Seeing that some debuted as early as thirteen, I was quite unusual.
“……If you’ll allow me.”
Why was he speaking so quietly? Ash leaned in until he was right in front of my nose, as if sharing a secret.
“I will formally invite you to a party. At an official event, I will……help with your debut……”
“Eh, no thanks.”
He looked like he’d been struck hard on the back of the head.
“It’s too much trouble.”
Another hit.
“I don’t plan on going to another one. Sparkly things are nice, and pretty, flashy dresses are nice too, but they’re a hassle. Dancing is fun when it’s with you, but this much is enough for me.”
“That’s……”
“Makeup is fine, but taking it off is annoying. Dresses are pretty, but getting out of them is a nightmare. Do you know how much dress shoes hurt your feet? I couldn’t live like that every day.”
Even if, by some chance, I married a high-ranking noble, I’d never participate in social activities.
If that was an absolute requirement, then I simply wouldn’t marry.
Ash looked relieved at my firm nod.
“Then I suppose that’s……fortunate.”
“Why?”
“If you danced with me, it might block your marriage prospects, so I thought you were refusing because of that.”
“Ah, having a prince as your debut partner is dangerous. It looks like you’re engaged.”
Our little game had to end there.
We were getting close to the house, and I could sense people nearby. Just as I was about to pull away in case someone saw……
“Jeanie.”
Ash didn’t let go of my hand. Sometimes he called my name like that, with a deep resonance. Our bodies had separated, but our hands remained tangled, reluctant to part.
“What’s wrong?”
Was he hurt somewhere?
“……This is strange.”
“What is.”
“I’m strange. I can’t deny it. The more I try to ignore it, the clearer it becomes.”
Why was he suddenly like this?
I met Ash’s turbulent eyes with a half-lidded gaze. He bit his lip hard before speaking in a breathless rush.
“When I see you, my heart races. Even when I’m just standing still……when I look at you……it goes crazy.”
“That’s……a big problem.”
“My body doesn’t feel like my own. Even though I’m a swordsman, I can’t control this one thing, and it’s driving me mad.”
Ash looked like he was suffocating. I suddenly raised my hand and placed it on his chest.
When I rested my palm over his heart, I could feel how wildly it was pounding.
“Ash……”
“Jeanie.”
“Do you have heart failure?”
“……What?”
“The symptoms match heart failure exactly. How can someone so young be this frail……”
Tsk tsk. I looked at him with genuine pity, then lowered my head and shook it, realizing it was rude.
I’d suspected he was a herbivore-type guy, but to think he was also sickly. This made him prime prey for the imperial family.
“No, no……! This is entirely because of you. Jeanie, there’s nothing wrong with my health.”
If that was true, then it made even less sense. I didn’t bother hiding my confusion.
“Your heart is racing because of me?”
Looking at me with a stiff expression, Ash gave a heavy nod.
I had to think for a moment to find the answer. If his heart raced because of me……then that meant……right!
“I get it! You’re worried I’ll kill you?”
“Haah, Jeanie……”
“Don’t worry! We’re friends. I won’t kill you! Here, I swear.”
I even grabbed both his hands and shook them, but Ash rudely sighed right in my face.
I should just kill him. This bastard.
“That’s not what I mean.”
“Then what? I don’t get it, so just say it.”
“I……you……”
He looked like he was in agony, as if I were strangling him, then glanced at my furrowed brows and closed his eyes in defeat.
“No, let’s stop. If I only look like a friend to you……I’ll be satisfied with that for now.”
“What is it!”
“It’s embarrassing to be so forward. We’ve only known each other for two months……though we did meet again.”
Was that really something to be so embarrassed about that he had to cover his mouth?
Ash was doing something I couldn’t understand. Strange. I was a genius with quick wits, so why couldn’t I figure out what was wrong with him?
“I need to control my emotions better.”
“So what does that even mean!”
“Jeanie, you once said that if you don’t ask for permission, you can’t be rejected either.”
“I did. When I was following your party.”
“When I’m certain I won’t be rejected……I’ll tell you then. I don’t want things to become awkward between us.”
“……You coward!”
“I’m trying not to be discourteous to you.”
This guy’s excessive politeness was the problem. Sometimes you had to go too far. Sometimes you just had to act!
Overthinking never led to progress!
“Ash!”
Ash left me burning with curiosity and dashed off toward the well at Chad’s call. Left alone, I somehow couldn’t move from that spot.
“Ugh……”
What was that? What? What the hell.
It felt like I’d missed something important. Strange. I was supposed to be quick-witted!